Opinion: Why Lindsey Graham Must Go

Amnesty for illegal immigrants could spell the end of the Republican party.  In August of 2007, in response to a Democratic effort to enact legislation granting amnesty to illegal aliens, Senator DeMint was a leader in opposition, while Senator Graham supported the bill even though it did not prevent new illegal immigration.  Graham thanked Ted Kennedy for his work on the immigration bill and stated that he was “going to tell the bigots to shut up.”

Sen. Graham does NOT support free markets.  In July of 2013, Senator Graham voted with the Democrats to confirm Richard Cordray, a noted leftist promoter of aggressive economic regulation, as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, while Senator Scott voted in opposition.  In March of 2012, on the issue of providing funding for the Export-Import Bank, Senator Jim DeMint voted to uphold the principles of free enterprise and an economy free of government manipulation, while Senator Graham voted opposite Senator DeMint and in violation of those principles.  In October of 2011, on the issue of granting to the Treasury Department additional power to raise tariffs on international trade with China, Senator DeMint voted against the bill, while Senator Graham joined the Democrats and voted for it.  And in March of 2009, Senator Graham suggested that consideration should be given to nationalizing the American banking system.

Time and again he has demonstrated a preference for un-constitutional expansion of the Federal Government.  In June of 2013, Senator Graham displayed a cavalier attitude, as he has done repeatedly, toward Americans’ right to privacy by stating “It does not bother me one bit for the National Security Administration to have my phone number…”  Also in June of 2013 Graham displayed a similar cavalier attitude about restricting freedom of speech: “Who is a journalist is a question we need to ask ourselves,” he said. “Is any blogger out there saying anything—do they deserve First Amendment protection? These are the issues of our times.”  In April of 2013, when he had the opportunity to join fellow Republicans in support of  a filibuster against unconstitutional limitations on the right to keep and bear arms, Senator Graham voted to invoke cloture against those Republicans opposed to the bill.  In April of 2011, Senator Graham suggested that the free speech rights of Americans should be limited in what they should be able to say in regard to Islam.  Senator Graham was reported to have said that Congress might need to explore the need to limit some forms of freedom of speech, in light of Tennessee pastor Terry Jones’ Quran burning, and how such actions result in enabling U.S. enemies. “I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war,” Graham told CBS’ Bob Schieffer on “Face the Nation” Sunday.  In July of 2010, on the issue of confirming Elena Kagan, a noted liberal, to the Supreme Court, Senator DeMint joined fellow Republicans to vote against that nomination, while Senator Graham joined the Democrats and only four other Republicans to vote for confirmation.  In October of 2009, on the critical issue of opposition to new regulations to be imposed on the unproven theory of “global warming,” including notorious “cap and trade” proposals, Senator Graham co-authored an editorial with Democrat John Kerry endorsing such legislation, while Senator DeMint opposed it. Graham wrote with Kerry “First, we agree that climate change is real and threatens our economy and national security. That is why we are advocating aggressive reductions in our emissions of the carbon gases that cause climate change.”  In August of 2009, on the issue of confirming Sandra Sotoymayor, a noted liberal, to the Supreme Court, Senator DeMint joined thirty fellow Republicans to vote against, while Senator Graham joined the Democrats and voted for confirmation.  In May of 2005, Graham was one of the infamous “Gang of 14” who voted with Democrats to prevent Republicans from overriding Democrat blockage of Republican judicial nominees.

His foreign policy prescriptions are bad medicine.  In June of 2013, Senator Graham called for supplying American arms to known affiliates of Al Quaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria and assistance in the form of a “no-fly zone” and bombing of Syrian airfields.  In June of 2013, on the issue of an immigration bill that provides effective amnesty to illegal aliens without taking action to close the border first, Senator Graham joined the Democrats in invoking cloture and supporting the bill while Senator Scott voted in opposition.  In November of 2012, and in prior years, while Senator DeMint was strongly opposing the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would unconstitutionally cede American sovereignty rights to the United Nations, Senator Graham sided with Democrats and failed to support Senator DeMint.  In October of 2012, when Republican Senator Rand Paul began running advertisements attacking Democrats for voting to continue foreign aid to Middle-East countries who are actively anti-American, Senator Graham defended the Democrats.  In November of 2011, on the issue of approving a foreign aid budget that was unjustified, Senator DeMint opposed the bill but Senator Graham joined the Democrats in supporting it.

Sen. Graham has shown a wonton disregard for the taxpayer by favoring big tax increases.  In May of 2013, Graham joined Democrats in voting to pass a massive new internet sales tax with burdensome reporting requirements.  Senator Scott and most Republicans opposed the bill.  In August of 2008, Senator Graham joined the so-called “Gang of Ten” working with Obama to develop new taxes on energy use and spending billions of dollars on alternative-fuel vehicles rather than respecting the ability of private industry to resolve the nation’s energy problems.  In December of 2010, on the issue of whether to extend the Bush tax cuts in a compromise with Democrats that failed to make the tax cuts permanent, Senator DeMint voted against the bill, while Senator Graham joined the Democats and voted for it.

……and big spending initiatives.  In 2008, Senator Graham voted for the unconstitutional bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and also for the TARP “big bank bailout” bill, both of  which Senator DeMint opposed.

Editor’s note: The author wished to remain anonymous.

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